Monday evening brought another brilliant GoodGym Liverpool session, this time on the Mount at the beautiful St James’ Gardens by the Anglican Cathedral. As always, the evening started with movement and good company, with part of the group meeting near famous Suitcases for a run before heading down to the task location together. After a warm-up and an easy run through the city, we arrived ready to get stuck in.

The gardens were waiting for a bit of love and it didn’t take long before everyone found a job to tackle. Armed with tools, gloves and plenty of energy, we spread out across the space to help tidy and refresh the area. Some of us focused on clearing overgrown sections, cutting back vegetation to help reopen parts of the pathways and make the gardens easier to enjoy. Others got busy cleaning, litter picking and generally sprucing things up to bring a bit of order back to the space.

Bit by bit, the area started to transform. Paths became clearer, corners looked brighter and the gardens felt more open and cared for. After plenty of teamwork, laughs and muddy hands, we wrapped up the session feeling accomplished before heading back, knowing we’d made a real difference to a much-loved local space.

So, there were six of us tonight, and even though I was supposed to lead, life threw a curveball—so, Liam and Sophie became the dream team and took over! Classic GoodGym—when one falters, someone jumps in.

Jo arrived from Exeter, its always lovely when Jo has work on in Liverpool as we get to see her. I didnt get to chat tonight as I was late arriving and we were on different sites... but send my love to my birth county Jo.

Jo, Sophie, and Liam got straight to work taming a very overgrown raised bed by St. Peter’s Church, next to the Shewsy community centre. Bramble-wrangling, buddleia-bashing, plantain pulling and bush-busting clearing that raised bed. There was a particularly dug in bush that needed removing which the terrific trio managed with their strength and enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Ellie, Heetu, and I made a fashionably 5 minute late entrance, but we quickly got stuck in—saws in hand, we chopped down poplar saplings, which were overgrowing horse chestnuts and cowslips. John planted more cowslips whilst we sawed. I clearly worked hard despite every photo looking like I was just chatting as I even broke a saw—Heetu was practically doing a happy dance, since we always rib her about brush breakages!

After all that, we regrouped, and took the group photos, before heading off. Heetu and i couldn't resist doing a little overtime and finishing the job of clearing the white poplar saplings... we will be pop(u)lar!.

Being in Everton—home of the Blues—I could’ve easily had the blues about being late, but instead, I felt lifted by it all. And on the ride home, the sunset was quietly beautiful—a reminder that even when things don’t start as planned, you can still find yourself chasing the light.

There’s something about evenings like this—being outside, working alongside others, doing something simple but worthwhile. It slows things down, shifts your perspective a little, and reminds you what matters. I may not always feel like turning up for a session but I never regret it! I strongly recommend it

Here's to many more Monday nights...

Liverpool put on a lovely clear night for my last task with Good Gym Liverpool. I met Liam, Aatefa, Sophie and Steph at the suitcases. Steph, who is in the midst of half marathon training, was even mid long run. We cannot wait to hear how the race goes!

We enjoyed a lovely nearly 2km run to Princes park to meet the rest of the group. We were so impressed to see Dike who did not let running back to back marathons put him off joining the regular Monday night task! Well done Dike! 👏

Before we got started, Bekah said a lovely goodbye and I was given some very generous gifts from the team. I may have shed a few tears and had many bittersweet goodbye hugs.

Katy and Liz then gave us the briefing. Our goal was to revitalize a very muddy and slightly overgrown area of path near to the island. Armed with wheelbarrows, shovels and loppers, we headed down to get stuck in to the task, in true Good Gym form. Highlights included debating the difference between a shovel and a spade and seeing a frog! By the end of the hour we had cleared a whole lot of mud from the path and filled this in with overgrowth that others had cleared from nearby.

At the end of the task, some walked and some ran back to the suitcases where after a quick stretch, we headed to the pub. What followed was a lovely time catching up and chatting about how lovely it is to be a part of Good Gym Liverpool!

Thanks again to everyone for being a part of my journey and for the excellent send off!

On a beautiful Saturday morning with no (purple) rain, nine goodgymers joined up to run and our amazing volunteer (Liam) at Princes parkrun and eat breakfast too!

Little did we know that an amazing person (well Prince) running many parkruns listed on his guitar, was running to raise money for prostate cancer even after a heart operation himself!
Needless to say with his ghetto blaster of Prince tunes, it infected our run with princess like ear-worms...

"We never wanted to be just your weekend runner,

We only wanted to be some kind of parkrun friend,

Hey baby, I could never steal you from another breakfast,

It's such a shame our friendship never has to end

Purple run, Purple run, Purple run, I only want to see you underneath the purple runs!"

Hoping without my bad singing in mind, it could inspire you to join us for our friendly monthly Saturday sticker parkrun.

This was not the only inspirational runner in parkrun but our very own Amina ( aka Supergran: She'll do the things that you never saw your granny do, There's nothing that she cannae do!) charging up hills in super speed with her granddaughter in her pram who was singing away with her rattle watching the crowds of runners go by. Definitely enjoying an easier way to complete parkrun , people watching!

Then we joined our chief Symbol giver formally known as Star sticker guardian ( Steph) at Coffee Lodge for a marvellous breakfast accompanied by some new lovely thought provoking words in frames which reminded us of good gym:

"A gift so rare and beautiful, kindness is a principle so unique and powerful who ever does it is truly wonderful"

(aka our Prince of princes park and all you goodgymers)

"You don’t have to see the whole staircase just take the first step"

(aka Amina just going with her pram and anyone inspired to join us)

Definitely drop mic, thats it, thanks for listening!

The mid April weather being what it is, our latest group run began with a mix of a rain deluge and sunshine at the Suitcases, which rewarded us with some beautiful rainbows before we even started. A nervous Liam stepped up to lead the run for the first time, leading Aatefa, Sallyann, Heetu, Steph, and Laura on a short but sweet run through the Georgian streets toward the Cathedral. It was a great way to warm up before the main event.

By the time we reached the gardens, the sun had come out fully as we were joined by the rest of the group. We were delighted to celebrate two big milestones: Aatefa completing her 10th task and Miriam reaching her 50th! To mark this milestone Bekah brought a box of chocolates for Miriam, which she kindly shared with the group. We’re all looking forward to seeing Miriam in her new black GG T-shirt soon!

After a helpful briefing from the Friends of St. James Gardens, we got straight to work in high spirits. Heetu and Sophie did a great job clearing litter to keep the space tidy, while Aatefa, Sallyann, Jess, Pri, and Ellie planted new flowers near the Parliament Street end. It’s always rewarding to add something lasting to the gardens and the new flowers will be a lovely addition for the gardens.

The rest of the team headed to the old towpaths at the back of the gardens, working together to clear branches and foliage from the walls. Some of the branches put up a fight but the team weren't accepting defeat and managed to clear a large section of the walls. This essential maintenance helps preserve the site's history, and the team made light work of it with plenty of chat and energy.

The time really flew by and before we knew it we were back at the Huskisson memorial in the centre of the gardens to wrap up the task under the shadow of the Cathedral. A special thanks from Liam to the rest of the group for making the task go so smoothly. It was really appreciated!

A huge thank you to everyone for your hard work and for making the session so enjoyable—we look forward to seeing you at the next one!

Five thousand, six hundred and thirty five good deeds

Five thousand-six hundred moments so dear

Five thousand, six hundred and thirty five good deeds

How do you measure, measure 8 years?

In daylights, in sunsets, in parkruns and breakfasts

In walking, in running, in laughter so rife

Five thousand, six hundred and thirty five good deeds

How do you measure eight years in our life.

How about Love

How about Love

Seasons of Love

Five thousand, six hundred and thirty five good deeds

Done by, three hundred-forty three volunteers hands

Seven Hundred and twelve times we helped a community

How do you measure eight years in GoodGym plans

In brushes, in litterpicks, in weeding and planting

In painting, in clearing, in cheering so rife

Five thousand, six hundred and thirty five good deeds

How do you measure eight years in our life.

How about Love

How about Love

Seasons of Love

(apologies Jonathan Larson)

Celebrating is something that comes second nature to a GoodGymer. Every week for eight years we’ve celebrated the amazing communities we get to work alongside and be inspired by. We’ve celebrated connecting with older people who may be a little isolated, hearing their stories and sharing a smile. We’ve celebrated running and walking together, and all our achievements and milestones along the way, big and small. And we’ve celebrated milestones in each other lives, weaving together our own stories as we dig, plant and weed. If there’s one thing you can say about a GoodGymer is that our group is full of people cheering each other on! Celebration is second nature.

And if we are ever lacking in energy, feeling a bit glum in this complicated world, we know that an hour or two working side by side with neighbours, communities, and projects in Liverpool will lift us up and remind us that Liverpool is a city full of love.

It’s no surprise that when it came to our 8th Birthday celebrations, that even people who couldn’t stay for the evening popped in to help Bekah and Heetu set up before heading to another commitment (lovely Clara) and that everyone coming mucked it for this GoodGym style DIY party.

We had use of the fabulous DoES Liverpool space arranged by our ever amazing Bekah (where would we be without the effort love and care of our Bekah!) and everyone brought food to share (including Bekah’s now famous sausage rolls!) and Liam provided the music (after a somewhat intense discussion about what playlist to choose - why 80’s/90’s bangers of course!) With party decorations a plenty the room soon filled with the buzz of joy just to be in each others company, and one of our favourite things we also got to meet new people as Aatefa brought two friends along as a means to pursue them to sign up (It was lovely to meet you Kate and Sadia) (If Aatefa has her way her whole class would be joining GoodGym!)

We talked about what our favorite tasks have been (seeing the sunsets from Everton Park always gets a mention here) and what we would like to do in the coming year.

And I managed to share some statistics from our 8 years together reminding people that each and every task has been an act of love in a world that often feels scary and isolating for so many of us. There is no greater achievement in this world than connection, creating community as an antidote to what ails us, and community as a radical act of love.

“Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter”

In eight years (including the time spent in national lockdown) 343 GoodGymers have cumulatively completed 5’635 good deeds in Liverpool. This includes: 349 visits to people who are older and isolated, helping with the things that usually slip through the net of social services, and finding that the task is what brings us there, but the chat and the cuppa is what we always remember most.

712 Group Tasks, planting, clearing paths, painting rooms and fences, wrapping presents, cleaning walls, lopping trees, sorting clothes, weeding, brushing yards, shifting furniture, stewarding runs and festivals, and not to forget litterpicking! Often in the dark, sometimes in the rain, always in laughter.

8 years, 32 seasons of love Happy Birthday GoodGym Liverpool